Proofs and Theories by Louise Gluck

Proofs and Theories

Essays on Poetry

Louise Gluck

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · December 1, 1995

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature Proofs and Theories, winner of the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Non-Fiction, is an illuminating collection of essays by Louise Glück, one of this country's most brilliant poets.

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Who it’s for
Louise Glück brings compressed, fierce prose to poems, literary criticism, and the life of a poet.
Themes
Poetry and literary criticism, A poet’s education and life, Poetic mentorship
Genres
Poetry Criticism, Essay Collections, Poetry Writing

About this book

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature Proofs and Theories, winner of the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Non-Fiction, is an illuminating collection of essays by Louise Glück, one of this country's most brilliant poets. Like her poems, the prose of Glück, who won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1993 for The Wild Iris, is compressed, fastidious, fierce, alert, and absolutely unconsoled.

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The force of her thought is evident everywhere in these essays, from her explorations of other poets' work to her skeptical contemplation of current literary critical notions such as "sincerity" and "courage." Here also are Glück's revealing reflections on her own education and life as a poet, and a tribute to her teacher and mentor, Stanley Kunitz. Proofs and Theories is not a casual collection. It is the testament of a major poet.

Poetry Under Scrutiny

Louise Glück brings compressed, fierce prose to poems, literary criticism, and the life of a poet.

Come here for

  • Close readings of other poets’ work
  • A skeptical look at ideas like sincerity and courage

Expect

  • Fastidious, unconsoled prose
  • Essays that move between criticism and personal reflection

Where it sits

Poetry Criticism55%
Essay Collections39%
Poetry Writing37%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Short Story Anthologies
  • The Classics
  • Literary Fiction
  • Short Stories (Single Author)
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Feminist Fiction
  • Essay Collections
  • Medieval Collections
  • Women Authors Collections
Authors
Louise Gluck
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
December 1, 1995
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Poetry and literary criticism · A poet’s education and life · Poetic mentorship
Reading lane
Short Story Anthologies